Local business owners rely on free USD legal clinic

Gwen Pierce and her interns, Emily Cohlheim of Eastlake High and Shyana Brown of High Tech High, assemble packets of the latest issue of "The Chocolate Voice" magazine for mailing out.
— Eduardo Contreras

Gwen Pierce and her interns, Emily Cohlheim of Eastlake High and Shyana Brown of High Tech High, assemble packets of the latest issue of "The Chocolate Voice" magazine for mailing out.
— Eduardo Contreras

Johnson, 58, is an actor who appears in local dramatic productions. Years ago, he was homeless because of his alcohol and drug abuse. That experience motivated him to establish what he plans to call the Vagabond Theater Project. He wants to offer dramatic classes for young homeless people at his church and host a theater festival at a local community college.

“Working in the theater kept me grounded and kept the magic in my life, and I want to offer that to other people,” he said.

Pierce’s magazine business is steadily growing. She’s on track to be profitable in June, with 200 paying subscribers. “It’s a ton of work, and I spend a lot of time on it,” she said, “but it’s a labor of love.”